onk riding along the road, with a page behind
him, carrying letters from the Sheriff to the King telling of Robin's
capture.

'Whence come you?' asked Little John, going up to the monk, 'and can
you give us tidings of a false outlaw named Robin Hood, who was taken
prisoner yesterday? He robbed both me and my fellow of twenty marks,
and glad should we be to hear of his undoing.'

'He robbed me, too,' said the monk, 'of a hundred pounds and more, but
I have laid hands on him, and for that you may thank me.'

'I thank you so much that, with your leave, I and my friend will bear
you company,' answered Little John; 'for in this forest are many wild
men who own Robin Hood for leader, and you ride along this road at the
peril of your life.'

They went on together, talking the while, when suddenly Little John
seized the horse by the head and pulled down the monk by his hood.

'He was my master,' said Little John,
'That you have brought to bale,
'Never shall you come at the King
'For to tell him that tale.'

At these words the monk uttered loud cries, but Little John took no
heed of him, and smote off his head, as Much had already smitten off
that of the page, lest he should carry the news of what had happened
back to the Sheriff. After this they buried the bodies, and, taking
the letters, carried them themselves to the King.

When they arrived at the Palace, in the presence of the King, Little
John fell on his knees and held the letter out. 'God save you, my
liege lord,' he said; and the King unfolded the letters and read them.

'There never was yeoman in Merry England I longed so sore to see,' he
said. 'But where is the monk that should have brought these letters?'

'He died by the way,' answered Little John; and the King asked no more
questions.

Twenty pounds each he ordered his treasurer to give to Much and to
Little John, and made them yeomen of the crown. After which he handed
his own seal to Little John and ordered him to bear it to the Sheriff,
and bid him without delay bring Robin Hood unhurt into his presence.

Little John did as the King bade him, and the Sheriff, at sight of the
seal, gave him and Much welcome, and set a feast before them, at which
John led him to drink heavily. Soon he fell asleep, and then the two
outlaws stole softly to the prison. Here John ran the porter through
the body for trying to stop his entrance, and, taking the keys, hunted
through the cells until he ha